Have you ever wondered what the offspring of a golden retriever and a husky would look like? Well, wonder no more, as one adopted pup is capturing attention online for being exactly that. Zade, a striking blend of two of America’s favorite breeds, is the best of both worlds.
Zade lives in the Netherlands with his owner, 28-year-old Demi Geurtsen, who adopted him at just four months old. Now nearly two, he displays the frame and demeanor of a golden retriever, paired with the gray-and-white markings typical of a Siberian husky. He is thriving alongside Geurtsen’s purebred huskies, although he is “very different” from his sled-dog siblings.
She told Newsweek: “He acts a lot more like a golden retriever than a husky.”
Golden retrievers and Siberian huskies may sit side by side on America’s list of most beloved dogs, but they were built for very different worlds.
Both are social, energetic working breeds, yet the American Kennel Club descriptions highlight their contrasts.
The golden retriever is an “exuberant Scottish gundog” described as “outgoing, trustworthy, and eager-to-please.” They were bred for close human partnership, excelling everywhere from hunting fields to guide-dog and search-and-rescue work.
The Siberian husky, meanwhile, is a “thickly coated, compact sled dog” developed to pull light loads over “vast frozen expanses.” Friendly but notably more dignified, mischievous and independent, the husky is known for endurance, effortless movement and striking eyes. One breed lives to please; the other was shaped by the demands of harsh, icy terrain. Their shared popularity often obscures the fact that they were designed to work, think and bond with humans in very different ways.
For Geurtsen, these distinctions show up daily.
“Zade follows me around everywhere, loves water and swimming,” she said. “He is very much a cuddler and always needs attention.”
Still, she has noticed hints of husky behavior layered beneath his golden-like devotion.
“Zade listens a lot more and actually wants to do things for me,” she explained, noting that he will happily carry items she hands him. “Whereas my husky will look at me and give me the side eye,” she said. “Zade has got that golden retriever overenthusiasm.”
Geurtsen, who goes by @demi.geurtsen on TikTok, regularly gains attention online showing videos of her mixed pup and huskies enjoying scenic adventures online. The combination of a golden retriever’s affectionate nature with the husky’s striking coloration makes this mix particularly eye-catching to dog lovers who enjoy seeing how different breeds blend together.